IELTS Task 1 GT: A Complete Guide to Draft an Impressive Letter
In the writing section of the IELTS General Training paper, you will have to solve two tasks to showcase your ability to convey your thoughts through written English. The first task requires you to draft a letter on the situation given in the question. On the other hand, the second task includes a point of view, which you need to discuss in around 250 words. So, in this write-up, we will explore everything about task 1 GT first. So, read till the end to ace the test on your first attempt.
What Is Task 1 in IELTS GT?
In IELTS task 1 letter GT, you are required to draft a letter in response to a situation given in the question. These are typically common everyday scenarios, and you need to write at least 150 to 200 words in about 20 minutes. Besides, the marking of this task is done on the following parameters:
- Task achievement/response
- Coherence and cohesion
- Lexical resource
- Grammatical range and accuracy.
Thus, you must make sure to follow all these criteria while drafting your letter. Besides, there are different types of letters that you might come across in writing task 1 GT. So, the upcoming segment will help you to understand each of them in detail.
Types of Letters: Formal, Semi-formal, Informal
There are three different types of GT writing task 1, which you might need to draft. Thus, here is a brief explanation of them:
Formal Letter
These types of letters are written when you are contacting someone you do not know in person. This is usually used in a professional or official setting. The tone used in the formal one is polite, respectful and impersonal. Besides, you need to use professional vocabulary in task 1 GT formal letter. Moreover, some common topics that you come across can be:
- Making a complaint
- Making an official request or inquiry
- Applying for a job
- Requesting service or information
- Reporting a problem to an authority
Semi-formal Letter
The second type of letter in IELTS writing task 1 is the semi-formal letter. This letter is drafted when you are addressing someone you know but in a professional or formal way. The tone of these letters must be polite but more personal than formal letters. Furthermore, the common situations of semi-formal letter writing in IELTS GT task 1 are:
- Writing to a neighbour, landlord, or teacher
- Making a request or suggestion
- Explaining a situation to someone you know in a non-personal way
Informal Letter
The last type of GT letter task 1 is informal letter writing. It is written when you are writing to a family member, friend or close acquaintance. Thus, the tone of this letter will be friendly, casual or warm. You can also use informal expressions and phrasal verbs. Furthermore, the common situations for this letter-writing task can be:
- Inviting a friend
- Giving personal news
- Thanking someone
- Asking for or offering help
These are the types of letter writing that you will come across in writing task 1 of GT IELTS. However, if you want to practice them and have a thorough understanding of them, then taking the IELTS writing mock test is the best thing. Moreover, each of these types follows a common structure that you will be getting along with in the upcoming segment of the blog.
Structure of an Ideal IELTS GT Task 1 Letter
Each of the letter in GT task 1 follows a similar structure, following which you will be able to secure higher scores. Thus, here is a brief of the structure:
Saturation (Greeting)
- Formal:
Dear Sir or Madam, (if Name is unknown)
- Semi-formal:
Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],
- Informal: Dear [First Name],
Opening Paragraph
It is the paragraph that describes the purpose of the letter you are drafting. This must be direct and should match with the tone of the letter.
Body Paragraph
In this, you need to include two paragraphs typically. The first one will be explaining the history or the background of the situation provided. In the second one, you need to provide specific details, actions to be taken or what you expect.
Closing Paragraph
This is the last paragraph which is the final request or the summary of the entire letter. Thus, here you need to give the final verdict or suggest the solutions if asked.
Now, after perceiving the structure of letter writing in IELTS task 1 writing, it is time to explore the vocabulary words for the same. So, go through the upcoming section to explore.
Vocabulary Words for GT Letter Writing Task 1
Drafting a letter requires you to use appropriate vocabulary to ensure you do not lose points due to this. Thus, to ease your task, we have prepared a list:
Formal Letters
-
Openings:
I am writing to inform you...
I would like to express my concern...
- Requests:
I would be grateful if you could...
Could you please provide...
- Complaints:
I am dissatisfied with...
This issue needs urgent attention.
- Closings:
I look forward to your response.
Yours faithfully, / Yours sincerely,
Semi-formal Letters
-
Openings:
I hope you are doing well.
I’m writing to let you know...
- Requests:
Could you please help me with...
I was wondering if you could...
Closings:
Let me know what you think.
Kind regards, / Yours sincerely,
Informal Letters
- Openings:
Hi [Name],
How have you been?
- Friendly Phrases:
Just wanted to say...
It’s been ages since we last spoke!
- Requests:
Can you do me a favour?
Would you mind helping me with...?
- Closings:
Talk soon! / Take care!
Cheers, / Love,
These were the vocabulary phrases to use in task 1 GT formal letter, informal letter or semi-formal letter. Using these will ensure you are on the right track. Moreover, if you want to know how to score well, then using the strategies listed in the following section will be helpful.
Tips for Success in Task 1 GT
Solving the letter writing task requires you to apply some tips and tricks. So here we have mentioned some effective ones to help you out:
- Begin with understanding the type of letter you need to draft.
- Brainstorm the ideas before you jump into the writing part.
- Write the letter in bullet points as much as possible to make it easy to read.
- Stick to the word count, as exceeding it might make you lose points.
- Use appropriate vocabulary as per the type of letter.
- Concentrate on making your grammar to the point.
- Do not submit the task without proofreading it.
- Take the IELTS mock test free online to get your hands on the task beforehand.
Conclusion
Here we come to an end, so till now you must have an understanding of what Task 1 GT is in the IELTS exam. This blog contains everything about it, from the overview to examples, structure, types and tips to score well in this task. However, if you have some doubts, then joining online classes for IELTS will be the best solution. As the experts here will guide you in the right direction.
